Effects of diffusion on the kinetic study of an epoxy system diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A/1,2-diamine cyclohexane/calcium carbonate filler

The curing reactions of an epoxy system consisting of a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (BADGE n = 0), 1,2-diamine cyclohexane (DCH) with calcium carb onate filler, were studied to determine different kinetic parameters. Two m odels-one based solely on chemical kinetics and the other accounting for di ffusion-were used and compared to experimental data both for systems with a nd without filler. It was found that 100 degrees C is the optimum service t emperature, and also that the presence of the filler has no influence on th e optimal service temperature range (60-100 degrees C) of the epoxy system. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.